container and Docker container are commonly used to deploy and run applications. However, they have some fundamental differences.

A virtual machine is an emulation of a physical computer system. It runs on top of a hypervisor, which allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. Each virtual machine has its own operating system, which consumes significant resources. The virtual machine includes the application, its dependencies, and an entire operating system, making it large and slow to start.

On the other hand, a Docker container is a lightweight and isolated package that contains everything needed to run an application, including the code, runtime, system tools, system libraries, and settings. Unlike a virtual machine, Docker containers share the host operating system and kernel, which makes them much smaller and faster to start. They also consume fewer resources, as multiple containers can run on a single host.

Docker containers are also more portable and flexible than virtual machines. They can be easily moved between different environments, such as development, testing, and production, without requiring any changes. Docker provides a consistent environment for running applications, regardless of the underlying infrastructure.

In summary, Docker containers are more lightweight, faster to start, and consume fewer resources compared to virtual machines. They also provide portability and flexibility, making them a popular choice for deploying and running applications in cloud infrastructure.